Post by catherine on Feb 9, 2007 21:42:47 GMT
Review! SPOILERS!! 
Ok, so went into seeing this film having not even seen the trailer, all I knew was that it was about teachers and had Judi Dench in it!
It is a VERY simple story and I liked the fact that such a simple story can make a great 90 minute film. Basically, Dench plays a battleaxe teacher who turns out to have slightly obsessive/stalker/lesbian tendancies which are aimed towards a new teacher starting at the school played by Cate Blanchett. Dench spends the film persuing Blanchett whilst Blanchett is in an unhappy marriage with Bill Nighy and ends up having an affair with one of her 15 yr old pupils! When Dench's character discovers she is having an affair with the boy she keeps it a secret and realises she has a lot of power over Blanchett's character. Dench's character is a lonely lady whose best friend is her cat and when the cat has to be put down by the vet she begs Blanchett to come with her and support her but she refuses as she promised to go to the school play of her two children (a 16yr old girl and a younger boy with Downs Syndrome). In revenge, Dench's character sets the scandal in motion by telling another teacher at the school who promptly reports Blanchett and the wheels turn, breaking up the Blanchett/Nighy marriage, causing both Dench and Blanchett to lose thier jobs and the boy's parents attacking Blanchett. Blanchett ends up with 10 months in prison and Dench? Well she just moves on to the next woman who she meets in the park...
It is a really good performance from Dench which has lots of depth and it is very interesting psycologically. Had a few laughs in it too which is good but mostly it was a serious film which was a good length. It was directed by Richard Eyre who also directed 'Iris' which I recommend too!! (also features the Dame!)
I am a bit rubbish at reviews but this film was good! Go see it!
**** ;D
Ok, so went into seeing this film having not even seen the trailer, all I knew was that it was about teachers and had Judi Dench in it!
It is a VERY simple story and I liked the fact that such a simple story can make a great 90 minute film. Basically, Dench plays a battleaxe teacher who turns out to have slightly obsessive/stalker/lesbian tendancies which are aimed towards a new teacher starting at the school played by Cate Blanchett. Dench spends the film persuing Blanchett whilst Blanchett is in an unhappy marriage with Bill Nighy and ends up having an affair with one of her 15 yr old pupils! When Dench's character discovers she is having an affair with the boy she keeps it a secret and realises she has a lot of power over Blanchett's character. Dench's character is a lonely lady whose best friend is her cat and when the cat has to be put down by the vet she begs Blanchett to come with her and support her but she refuses as she promised to go to the school play of her two children (a 16yr old girl and a younger boy with Downs Syndrome). In revenge, Dench's character sets the scandal in motion by telling another teacher at the school who promptly reports Blanchett and the wheels turn, breaking up the Blanchett/Nighy marriage, causing both Dench and Blanchett to lose thier jobs and the boy's parents attacking Blanchett. Blanchett ends up with 10 months in prison and Dench? Well she just moves on to the next woman who she meets in the park...
It is a really good performance from Dench which has lots of depth and it is very interesting psycologically. Had a few laughs in it too which is good but mostly it was a serious film which was a good length. It was directed by Richard Eyre who also directed 'Iris' which I recommend too!! (also features the Dame!)
I am a bit rubbish at reviews but this film was good! Go see it!
**** ;D